On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Laura Rog, NYC Service’s acting chief service officer, and Moriah Washington, New York City Emergency Management’s  director of community engagement, share the impact that volunteers have on assisting agencies and organizations fulfill their mission during National Volunteer Month and throughout the year.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk65

Prep Talk - Episode 65: National Volunteer Month

Ahead of her departure from NYC Emergency Management, NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell sat down with “Prep Talk” to discuss her tenure at the agency, including the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ever-evolving threat landscape that the country faces, the importance of equity across all emergency management operations, and the future of the emergency management field.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk66

Prep Talk - Episode 66: Farewell To Commissioner Criswell

To mark the beginning of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the New York City Emergency Management Department today unveiled the City’s revised hurricane evacuation zones. New York City Emergency Management also relaunched the Know Your Zone hurricane awareness campaign to encourage New Yorkers to find out whether they live in one of the City’s six hurricane evacuation zones, and take steps to be prepared for coastal storms and hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk68

Prep Talk - Episode 68: 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season - Stay Safe & Prepared

To commemorate this year’s “Ready School of the Year,” NYC Emergency Management released a new episode of its emergency management podcast, “Prep Talk.” During the episode, NYC Emergency Management Assistant Commissioner Anita Sher and Sal Puglisi of the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management discuss the importance of students developing emergency management skills earlier in their education. Puglisi discusses the overall mission of UASEM, including how the school combines in-class and hands-on experience to create a more holistic learning experience. The guests also highlight the impact the students have had in the community, providing emergency training to everyday New Yorkers.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk69

Prep Talk - Episode 69: Building the Next Generation of Emergency Managers

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner Henry Jackson and Director of Government Relations Yokarina Duarte discuss their multiple deployments to Puerto Rico and reflect on some of the challenges still facing the island following Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the 2020 earthquakes. The guests also talk about New York City’s unique partnership with San Juan, and the need for continued city-to-city collaboration.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk70

Prep Talk - Episode 70: NYC Brings Emergency Preparedness Training to Puerto Rico

Join us for a very special episode of "Prep Talk," featuring staff members recounting their experiences of 9/11 on the 20th anniversary.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk71

Prep Talk - Episode 71: 9/11 20th Anniversary

As the nation continues to face a range of concurrent disasters, from severe weather to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to take the time to make and review our emergency plans. This includes preparing our pets and service animals for disasters. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management’s Andrew Perlman discusses ways we all can make sure our pets and service animals are ready for emergencies. Perlman also highlights the work of the City’s Animal Planning Task Force, which puts forth several initiatives to make sure New York City’s pets and service animals are safe and prepared no matter what (or when) disasters strike. Initiatives include the COVID-19 Pet Hotline, a cooling center partnership with Petco during periods of extreme heat, and more.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk72

Prep Talk - Episode 72: Preparing Pets & Service Animals for Disasters

Before an emergency strikes, it is important to that all organizations have a plan, including businesses. New York City has over 200,000 organizations representing four million people. Any major disaster will a have huge impact on the economy. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management’s Strategic Partnerships Specialist Erika Amaya discusses how organizations can be ready for emergencies and what NYC Emergency Management and its partners are doing to support these efforts. Amaya also shares ways businesses can be prepared by creating an emergency plan and how often that plan should be updated. She shares different initiatives and programs available to organizations, including Partners in Preparedness program, which provides targeted resources to businesses and in return organizations will have a greater confidence in their continuity planning.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk73

Prep Talk - Episode 73: Business Preparedness

One of the best ways to be prepared for an emergency is having a plan, but it is imperative to practice your plan to ensure you are prepared for anything that comes your way. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Paula Carlson, director of exercises at NYC Emergency Management, discusses the importance of exercising emergency plans and how she and her team conduct drills and exercises to evaluate the City’s emergency plans. Carlson also shares how exercises have helped change the City’s perspective on how to prepare for and respond to different emergencies. For example, during exercises with agency partners through initiatives such as the regional quarterly exercise working group, emergency managers have the opportunity to share best practices and prepare for different hazards. Carlson also gives insight into how she and her team exercise citywide event scenarios involving large crowds, such as marathons and parades, and how to address various challenges that can occur during planned, large-scale events. She also shares her number one concert preparedness tip.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk74

Prep Talk - Episode 74: Exercising Your Emergency Plan

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Acting Commissioner D’Amora discusses his experience in a career in public service, the challenges in responding to heat and snow emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of technology in emergency management response.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk75

A Career In Public Service - Commissioner Andrew D'Amora

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Sonja Orgias, acting deputy chief counsel and co-chair of the equity and diversity council at NYC Emergency Management, discusses this employee-led initiative, the importance of diversity and inclusion in hiring practices and emergency operations, as well as mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. She also shares how a lack of diversity in the emergency management field can adversely affect the communities that are being served. Orgias also provides best practices and discusses working with different agencies to highlight social issues and how accessibility needs are being addressed in the workplace.

Prep Talk - Episode 77: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Emergency Management

As the emergency management field expands, so too does the need for diverse, knowledgeable professionals. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” two women leaders in emergency management from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Elyse Morris and Cory Pardo, discuss the role of women in public service, leadership, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more.  
 
Each guest also shared how they expect the emergency management field to evolve and the importance of having more women involved in public service and emergency management.

Prep Talk - Episode 78: Women in Public Service

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Commissioner Zach Iscol discusses his experiences, expectations, and what he is looking forward to the most in his new role. Commissioner Iscol also chats about what sparked his interest in the emergency management field, what keeps him up at night, and his leadership approach.

Prep Talk - Episode 79: NYC Emergency Management Welcomes Commissioner Zach Iscol

Prep Talk - Episode 80: Emergency Planning

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season outlook forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, discusses the science behind the outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. He reveals what sparked his interest in meteorology and how he got started in field. Rosencrans also shares how NOAA fits into the disaster cycle and how they work with emergency management agencies when disasters occur. He has experienced a variety of severe weather events and discusses how it shaped his outlook of the future.

Prep Talk - Episode 81: Preparing for the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The latest episode of “Prep Talk” podcast highlights the strategic plan as well as one its key priorities: talent retention and recruitment, and the agency’s goal for its workforce to reflect the communities it serves. The new episode featuring NYC Emergency Management Monitoring and Evaluation Program Manager Jimmy Deats and Deputy Director of Talent & Culture Veronica Geager.

Prep Talk - Episode 82: Strategic Plan/Talent Retention and Recruitment

Prep Talk - Episode 83: Coordination with Utility Partners

¡Prepárate! A Conversation with NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez

As the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy approaches, New York City Emergency Management staff members reflect on the historic storm and the unprecedented impacts New York City faced. The storm forever changed New York City and was a pivotal moment in creating change to combat climate change and the increase in extreme weather events.

On this episode of “Prep Talk” Herman Schaffer, deputy commissioner of community engagement and Heather Roiter, assistant commissioner of risk and recovery at NYC Emergency Management, discuss the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Sandy and the role that NYC Emergency Management played during the preparedness, response and recovery stages. They also discuss lessons the City has learned, programs implemented since the destructive storm hit, and how they prepare for future storms.

Prep Talk - Episode 85: Ten Years After Superstorm Sandy

On September 19, 2022, Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico, five years to the day of Hurricane Maria. Four days after, Mayor Eric Adams sent a multiagency team of New York City employees to assess the island’s needs after the hurricane. The team was comprised of employees from the New York City Emergency Management Department, New York City Department of Buildings, New York City Department of Design and Construction, New York City Police Department, and  New York City Parks Department. Over the two-week deployment, team members visited over 47 municipalities and gathered information on structural damage to public and private buildings, roads, parks and other vulnerable facilities. 

On the latest episode of ‘Prep Talk’, team member Jason Rolon, deputy director of construction safety and engineering with the Department of Buildings, discussed the differences in the inspections after the earthquakes in Puerto Rico in 2020 and the damages from Hurricane Fiona. Jose Torres, a climber, pruner and crew chief also with NYC Parks Department shared the potential dangers from uprooted trees after the hurricane, in addition to their impact to overhead electrical cables, roadways and critical infrastructure.

Deploying to Puerto Rico in the Aftermath of Hurricane Fiona

Winter Weather Prep with DSNY

On this episode of “Prep Talk” Christina Curry, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities, the first African American woman in the role, discusses how she became an advocate for the deaf and people with disabilities. Curry also talks about the many challenges people with disabilities face and how they may differ for people of color. She shares the importance of having diverse voices, especially when it comes to planning for and mitigating emergencies. She also discusses her goals for the agency and things everyone should be mindful of when interacting with people with disabilities. On this episode two ASL interpreters, Emilio Garcia and Jason Colon were present to ensure more accessibility. The transcript can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3JWAgCg

Creating a more inclusive city: A discussion with NYC MOPD Commissioner Christina Curry

On this episode of “Prep Talk” Camille Joseph Varlack, chief of staff to the Mayor of New York City, shares her story about what inspired her to pursue a career in law, challenges women still face in the workplace, and what she hopes to accomplish in her current role. Varlack also discusses what led her to a career in public service and why she eventually started her own law practice. Throughout her career she has overseen the City and State’s response to various emergencies and talks about which disaster was the most difficult to navigate, as well as the most rewarding thing about assisting New Yorkers during emergencies.

Women's History Month with Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack

On the latest episode of ‘Prep Talk’, Cari Olson, assistant commissioner of the Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, discusses the dangers of extreme heat during the summer months. Ms. Olson shared what precautions New Yorkers should take to beat the heat, and how the city responds to heat emergencies.

“My team is responsible for building a foundation of environmental health data and research, that is then used to improve the health of all New Yorkers,” said Cari Olson, assistant commissioner of the Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “For example, we track the health impacts of heat and who is most vulnerable. The triggers for a heat emergency issued by the National Weather Service and Emergency Management are based on data we compiled. As we began collecting data we observed that, once the heat index hits 95 or above, and that is a combination of heat and humidity, there was an exponential increase in deaths from heat in our vulnerable communities.”

To prevent heat illness and learn more ways to beat the heat, visit NYC Emergency Management’s Beat the Heat website at NYC.gov/beattheheat, or DOHMH’s Extreme Heat and Your Health page at nyc.gov/site/doh/health/emergency-preparedness/emergencies-extreme-weather-heat.page.

Beat the Heat with Health Tips from the NYC Department of Health

In recognition of September as National Preparedness Month, the latest episode of New York City Emergency Management’s Spanish podcast ¡Prepárate!, features Ernesto Morales, alerts coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s San Juan, Puerto Rico office. As part of the National Weather Service team in Puerto Rico, Morales coordinates messages before and during weather events impacting the island. On the heels of the one-year anniversary since Hurricane Fiona, Morales stresses that being prepared can save lives and help with response operations by emergency responders.

Episodio 18: Ernesto Morales From NOAA Discusses the Importance of Messaging Before Emergencies

First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell and Director of Individual Preparedness Abby Banks discuss the Ready NY and CERT programs for the 20th anniversary.

Prep Talk - 20th Anniversary of Ready NY and CERT

NYC Emergency Management's latest episode of ¡PREPÁRATE! talks with Commissioner Manuel Castro from the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, and the agency's role in serving immigrant communities of new York.

Preparate Episosde 19 Castro MOIA

The New York City Emergency Management Department and the FDNY remind you to “stand by your pan.” In honor of FDNY Fire Prevention Week, October 9 through 14, “Prep Talk” hosts sat down with FDNY’s Director of Community engagement Fabricio Caro, and FDNY Lieutenant Michael Kozo, to talk about the importance of educating New Yorkers about fire safety and prevention. In this episode, Lt. Kozo and Mr. Caro discuss FDNY’s range of programs to help people become “FDNY Smart,” from frequently changing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to standing by your pan while cooking, and closing the door in the event of a fire.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk17

Prep Talk - Episode 17: Fire Prevention

Are you secure online? On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” guests from New York City Emergency Management and the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. The episode is in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held every October. This year’s theme — Own It, Secure It, Protect It — focuses on key areas including citizen privacy, consumer devices, and e-commerce security. Eric Smalls, assistant commissioner of technology at NYC Emergency Management, Lois Last, senior director of the NYC Gov Lab & Studio at DoITT, and Toney Lewis, security engineer at NYC Emergency Management provide tips and resources to help individuals become safer online.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk39

Prep Talk - Episode 39: Cybersecurity

As the weather warms up and the potential risk for heat waves increases, New York City is taking a number of steps to ensure New Yorkers are safe this summer. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Kizzy Charles-Guzman, deputy director at the Mayor’s Office of Resiliency, and Carolyn (Cari) Olson, assistant commissioner of the Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, discuss initiatives to help vulnerable populations beat the heat, specifically in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Charles-Guzman and Olson highlight strategies to ensure vulnerable New Yorkers stay cool and safe at home, create safe summer cooling options, and conserve energy. They also discuss measures neighborhoods can implement to stay cool, along with tips people can use to stay safe at home.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk51

Popular tracks by NYC Emergency Management